Spring bumper and draft gear



Sept. 5, 1944. R. A. SHIELDS SPRING BUMPER AND DRAFT GEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet1' Filed Sept. 16, 1941 ma i/91525 3145 42%, an

Sept. 5, 1944. R. A. SHIELDS 2,357,611

SPRING BUMPER AND DRAFT GEAR Filed Sept. 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Sept. 5, 1944 SPRING BUMPER- AND DRAFT GEAR Robert A. Shields,Berwick,

iean Car and Foundry N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationSeptember 16, 1941, Serial No. 410,973

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring bumpers and draft gearand in particular to such gear when employed with mine and similarindustrial cars.

In mine and industrial cars it has been practically impossible tostandardize equipment due to varying track gauges and local conditionsinfluencing the height, width and weight of the cars. As a resultpractically all mine and industrial cars have been built more or less tocustomers specifications with the result that the bumpers and draft gearhave varied tremendously both in construction and in operation. It is anobject, therefore, of the present invention to provide an improvedbumper and draft gear assembly which may be readily modified to fitvarying conditions arising in various installations.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new improvedbumper and draft gear assembly in which a more or. less standard bumperand draft element may bebiiiit to receive varying sizes, number andcapacities of resilient means for resisting shock.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproveddrafngear and bumper assembly which may be readily and easilymodified to give varying resistancetoY-bumper or draft shocks.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved spring assembly in which the springs are handled in pairs asunits.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved bumper and draft assembly in which paired resilient unitsengage a single cross member locking the entire assembly to the carstructure.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to personsskilled in the art from a study of the following description andaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan struction with parts section to better disclose thetion;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the longitudinalcenter line of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial end and partial sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a resilient unitwith the cross member in position;

Fig. 5 is a partial side sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing aslight modification producing the same spring action, and

view of the improved conbroken away and parts in internal construcandbottom flanges Pa., assignor to Amer- Company, New York,

Fig. 6 is a partial side sectional view similar to Figs. 2 and 5 butshowing a still further modiflcation producing a modified spring action.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theimproved construction consists mainly of a flanged bumper and draftelement A, carried by side sill elements B and locked in position by asingle cross member or key C which forms an anchor for paired springelements D. The flanged bumper and draft gear element is constructed, asclearly shown in the figures, with a curved vertically extending frontface 2 merging into rearwardly extending upper and bottom flanges 4 and6 respectively. The upper flange of the bumper and draft element isprovided with a slot 1 adapted to receive a U-shaped strap 8 welded orotherwise secured to the top flange and with the lower arm thereofunderlapping the top flange, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thuseflectively interlocking the two parts. The outer portions of theU-shaped strap as well as the top of the bumper and draft element areprovided with openings I0 adapted to receive a coupling pin (not shown),by means of which draft forces may be transferred to the bumper anddraft element. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the front face of thebumper and draft elment is reinforced by a heavy strap l2 to which isattached at the ends or any-desired portion thereof wedge shaped blocksI4 in order that a flat back surface may be provided to transfer bumpingshocks to the resilient units later to be described. As clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the rear portions of the top and bottom flanges of thebumper and draft element are tied together by vertically extendingplates 15 and I6 welded together and forming the legs and armsrespectively of T-shaped reinforcements extending between the flangesand to transfer draft forces from the bumper and draft element to thespring units later to be described.

The flanged bumper and draft elment previously described may be mountedin any suitable manner upon the car structure but in the presentinstance it is mounted upon and carried by the lower flanges l8 of sidesill elements B, previously referred to. The webs IQ of the side sillelements are attached in any suitable manner to the side sills of thecar, while the upper flanges 20 of the side sill elements form a supportfor a housing plate 2| covering the bumper element and extending downover the inner end as at 22, then horizontally rearward as at 23 forattachment to car floor 24, all as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thusthe bumper element is-fully proand by flanges l8 and 20 of the side sillelements.

The side sill elements, as well as the side sills, are slotted as at 25(Figs. 1 and 3) to receive the cross member or key C which, when inposition, will be held against removal by locking rings 26 pressed intoposition and'as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

As shown in Fig. 1 two pairs of resilient units are provided and each ofthese units consists of a front U-shaped strap and a rear U-shapedstrap. The front U-sha ed strap-is formed with a flat web portion 30. arearwardly directed arms 32 slotted near their extremities as at 34 andwith the slots of suflicient width as to accommodate th cros member Cand of a length to permit the desired movement under bufl forces. Thefarther or free ends of the arms of the forward straps are joinedtogether by means of cross bars. which effectively tie the ends of theside arms together and form stops to cooperate with followers on the theentire assembly to the car and maintains the bumper and draft element ina, central position.

Application of a bumping force to the bumper facewill cause the entireassembly to move rearwardly with stops l4 acting through web 30 directlyupon spring 54 which is held against movement by follower 60 restingupon the cros member or key 0. In the meantime arms 32 of the forwardU-shaped strap have moved rearwardly as allowed by slots 34 and stops orcross bars 3 have moved follower 64 rearwardly compressing rear spring56 which, however, is held against movement by means of the rearU-shaped strap since arms 42 thereof are engaged over the cross membeior key. The rear stops Hi, of course, have in the meantime moved awayfrom web 40 and serve no useful function under buffin action.Application of a draft force to the combined rear half of the springunit. The rear U-shaped straps are of similar formation with a webportion 40, side arms 42, elongated slots 44 and cross bars 46 joiningthe free ends of the side arms together to prevent spreading andto'transfer forces to a follower block yet to be described. Front andrear spring seats are formed by plates 50 to which are welded shortlengths of pip 52 forming centering means for the remote ends of frontsprings 54 and rear springs 58. The inner or near end of spring 54 isheld in position by a short length of pipe 58 welded or secured to afollower block so of such a length as to engage at its ends with crossbars or stops 4 and having its center portion enlarged as at Ii toengage the cross member or key 0 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Theinner or near end of rear spring 56 is held centered by means of a-shortpipe 62 welded or otherwise secured to follower l4 having its endsbearing upon stops or cross bars 36 and with its central portionenlarged as at 65 to bear upon the cross member or key 0 previouslyreferred to. It will be seen from the preceding description that aspring unit has been formed consisting of a front and a rear U-shapedstrap with the arms facing each other and overlapping and tied togetheragainst separation by the cross bars or stops 3B and 48., Also that eachunit consists of front and rear springs and spring retaining means, someof which act as followers engaging the stops or cross bars as well asthe cross member or key in the final assembly. It will be obvious thatby modifying the width and position of the cross bars 38 and 43 on thestraps that modified spring action may be obtained.

-In assembling the entire construction the!)- shaped straps are broughtinto proper relation after which one set of cross bars or stops arewelded in; place, thus tying the two straps together against separation,then the followers and spring centering means and springs are broughtinto proper relation and the entire assembly compressed slightly andinserted in the bumper and draft element between stops l4 and It. Withthe spring units in thi position a gap is left between the followers 60and 84 since these followers are held by the stops 4 and 38respectively, then the bumper and draft member with the paired springunits in position is slid into the car upon flanges l8 of the side sillelements until cross member or key C can be inserted. Insertion of thekey or cross member then eifectively 9 3.

bumper and draft element will cause the entire.

assembly to move outward. In this case the T- shaped elements willthrough web 40 directly compress the rear spring 56 against follower 64which is held by the cross member or key. In the meantime the outwardlymoving arms 42 of the rear U-shaped strap will move forward causingcross bar 46 to move follower ill forward compressing forward spring 54which is held by its U-shaped strap arms 32 engaging the cros member orkey. Thus it will be seen under both draft and buff both springs of bothpairs act to resist movements of the combined bumper and draft element.It will, of course, be obvious that if the stops 46, for instance, areattached to the side arms 42 at points nearer the web of the U- shapedstrap, then they will not immediately contact follower 80 upon forwardmovement of the arms and springs 56 will absorb the first draft forcewith springs 54 coming into action later dependent on placement of stops46. Thus a graduated draft action can be obtained. Thesame is true if agraduated buff action is desired, in which case stops or cross bars 36would be shifted nearer web 30 and attached to side arms 32 at pointsother than those shown.

In some cases it may be objectionable, due to bending, to have the sidearms 32 and 42 act in compression to transfer a part of the bumping anddraft forces to certain of the spring elements and this may be readilyovercome by welding or otherwise securin stops to the upper and lowerflanges of the draft and bumper element. In the modification shown inFig. 5 upper and lower steps Ill and 12 respectively are-secured to theupper and lower flanges 4 and 6 of the combined bumper and draftelement. These stops are shown of a length to substantially occupy thespace between followers 60 and 64, thus upon movement of the bumper anddraft element under bufling forces the stops Ill and 12 will move to therear, that is, to the left of Fig. 5, and will cause follower 64 tocompress spring 56, the movement of which is resisted by the arms 42acting in tension. In the meantime the front spring 54 has beencompressed as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive but inthis case the side arms 32 do not carry any load whatsoever but merelyact as guides and a spring retaining means. The reverse action is trueunder draft forces, in which case stops Ill and 12 will move follower 60forward compressing spring 54. Thus all compressing strains are carriedby the combined bumper and draft element which can easily be made strongenough to withstand any strains to which it may be subjected.

As stated previously, it may be desired to modify the spring action,that is, to give a graduated spring action on either buff or draft.Since the graduated spring action is most desirable on draft, the mannerof obtaining this has been shown in Fig. 6. In this case upper and lowerstops 80 and 82 are shown secured respectively to upper and lowerflanges- 4 and 6 of the bumper and draft element. Since a graduateddraft action is desired these stops are of a length chosen in accordancewith the spring action desired and do not occupy the entire spacebetween the followers 60 and 64. However, they arenormally in directcontact with follower 64 in order that when buff forces are to beabsorbed they will cause follower 64 to move to the rear immediately,thus compressing springs 56 in unison with spring 54 compressed directlyby the bumper as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5inclusive. When, however, draft forces are to be absorbed, the bumperand draft element will move outwardly, that is, to the right of Fig. 6and spring 56 will be compressed directly by the T-shaped members formedby plates l5 and I6 and as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4inclusive. The'stops 80 and 82, however, will be moving outwardlywithout resistance until such time as they strike follower 60 which willthen be moved forwardly or to the right of Fig. 6 compressing spring 54exactly in the same manner as described in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. Itwill be seen, however, that spring 56 will have absorbed a certainamount of the draft force before any can be transmitted to spring 54 andthat spring 55 will always assume the major portion of the load with 54assuming a minor portion and the proportion of the load absorbed by thesprings of each pair will be dependent upon the predetermined length ofstops 80 and 82. It is obvious that if a modified buff spring action isdesired, then the stops 8!! and 82 would be positioned so as to pick upfollower 64 at a time subsequent to the initial rearward movement of thebumper and draft element.

In connection with Figs. 5 and 6 it is, of course, understood that theremainder of the structure, not shown, is identical or substantiallyidentical to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.It is also to be understood that while the invention has been describedmore or less in detail with specific reference to three modiflcations,other modifications as well as rearrangements of parts may be made bypersons skilled in the art and all such modifications and rearrangementsof parts are contemplated as will fall within the scope of the appendedclaims defining my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrial carshaving side sill elements, a flanged bumper and draft element carried bythe side sill elements and longitudinally slidable relative thereto, across member extending across the bumper element between the flangesthereof and carried by said side sill elements against longitudinalmovement relative thereto, U-shaped straps slidably engaging said crossmember and located forward and rearward thereof, resilient meansinterposed between the web portions of said straps and said cross memberand urging said straps apart, and means for transferring bumping anddraft forces from said bumper and draft element to said straps andresilient means.

2. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrial carshaving side sill elements, a flanged bumper and draft element carried bythe side sill elements and longitudinally slidable relative thereto, across member extending across the bumper element between the flangesthereof and carried by said side sill elements against longitudinalmovement relative thereto, U-shaped straps slidably engaging said crossmember and located forward and rearward thereof, resilient meansinterposed between the web portions of said straps and said cross mem--ber and urging said straps apart, and means for transferring bumping anddraft forces from said bumper and draft element to said resilient means,said means including stops on said straps and followers normallyengaging said cross member and alternately movable by said stops.

3. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrial carshaving side sill elements, a flanged bumper and draft element carried bythe side sill elements and longitudinally slidable relative thereto, across member extending across the bumper element between the flangesthereof and carried by said side sill elements against longitudinalmovement relative thereto, U-shaped straps slidably engaging said crossmember and located forward and rearward thereof, resilient meansinterposed between the web portions of said straps and said cross memberand urging said straps apart, and means for transferring bumping anddraft forces from said bumper and draft element to said resilient means,said means including stops on said bumper and draft element andfollowers normally engaging said cross member and alternately movable bycertain of said stops.

4. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrial carshaving side sill elements, a flanged bumper and draft element .carriedby the side sill elements and longitudinally slidable relative thereto,a cross member extending across the bumper element between the flangesthereof and carried by said side sill elements against longitudinalmovement relative thereto, U-shaped straps slidably engaging said crossmember and located forward and rearward thereof, resilient meansinterposed between the web portions of said straps and said cross memberand urging said straps apart, and means for transferring bumping anddraft forces from said bumper and draft element to said resilient means,said means including stops on said bumper and draft element andfollowers normally engaging said cross member and alternately movable bycertain of said stops, said certain of said stops engaging certain ofsaid followers subsequent to transfer of said forces to part of saidresilient means. I

5. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrial carshaving side sill elements, a flanged bumper and draft element carried bythe side sill elements and longitudinally slidable relative thereto. across member extending longitudinally across the bumper element betweenthe flanges thereof and carried by said side sill elements againstlongitudinal movement relative thereto. and means including transverselyspaced resilient elements carried between the flanges of the bumperelement on the inner and outer sides of said cross member and eachcooperating with the cross member to resist both bumping and draftforces acting upon the bumper element.

6. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrial carshaving side sill elements, a flanged bumper and draft element carried bythe side sill elements and longitudinally slidable relative thereto,a'cross member extending longitudinally across the bumper elementbetween the flanges thereof and carried by said side sill elementsagainst longitudinal movement relative thereto, and means includingpaired resilient elements carried between the flanges of the bumperelement with the elements of each pair located on opposite sides of saidcross member and each cooperating therewith to resist both bumping anddraft forces acting upon the bumper element.

7. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrial carshaving side sill elements, a flanged bumper and draft element carried bythe side sill elements andlongitudinally slidable relative thereto, across member extending longitudinally across the bumper element betweenthe flanges thereof and carried by said side sill elements againstlongitudinal movement relative thereto, and means including pairedresilient elements carried between the flanges of the bumper elementwith the elements of each pair located on opposite sides of said crossmember and cooperating therewith to resist both bumping and draft forcesacting upon the bumper element, said means also including stops soconstructed and arranged as to cause the elements of each pair ofresilient means to sequentially resist the forces imposed on the bumperand draft element.

8. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrialcars, a flanged bumper and draft element carried by the car andlongitudinally slidable relative thereto, longitudinally spaced stopssecured to the bumper flanges, a resilient unit located between saidflanges and interposed between said stops and adapted to receive bumpingand draft forces therefrom, and a single cross member retaining saidbumper and draft element on the car and transferring both bumping anddraft forces from the resilient unit to the car.

9. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrialcars, a flanged bumper and draft element carried by the car andlongitudinally slidable relative thereto, longitudinally spaced stopssecured to the bumper flanges, a resilient unit located between saidflanges and interposed between said stops and adapted to receive bumpingand draft forces therefrom, said resilient unit including spaced apartsprings, and

a single cross member retaining said bumper and draft element on the carand extending through said resilient unit between the spaced springs andtransferring both bumping and draft forces from the springs to the car.

10. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrialcars, a flanged bumper and draft element carried by the car andlongitudinally slidable relative thereto, a cross member extendingacross said element between the flanges thereof and connected to the caragainst longitudinal movement relative thereto, U-shaped straps locatedforward and rearward of said cross member and held thereby againstmovement away therefrom, resilient means interposed between said crossmember and the web portions of said U-shaped straps and urging saidstraps away from the cross member, and means secured to said bumper anddraft element for imposing draft and bump forces on said U-shapedstraps.

11. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrialcars, a flanged bumper and draft element carried by the car andlongitudinally slidable relative thereto, a cross member extendingacross said element between the flanges thereof and connected tothe caragainst longitudinal movement relative thereto, U-shaped straps locatedforward and rearward of said cross member and held thereby againstmovement away therefrom, resilient means interposed between said crossmember and the web portions of said U-shaped straps and urging saidstraps away from the cross member, and means secured to said bumper anddraft element for imposing draft and bump forces on said U-shapedstraps, said straps and means being so constructed and arranged as tocause all of said resilient means to resist both bump and draft forces.

12. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrialcars, a flanged bumper and draft element carried by the car andlongitudinally slidable relative thereto, a cross member extendingacross said element between the flanges thereof and connected to the caragainstlongitudinal movement relative thereto, U-shaped straps locatedforward and rearward of said cross member {and held thereby againstmovement away therefrom, resilient means interposed between said crossmember and the web portions of said U-shaped straps and urging saidstraps away from the cross member, and means secured to said bumper anddraft element for imposing draft and bump forces on said U-shapedstraps, said straps and means being so constructed and ar ranged as tocause said resilient means to act sequentially in resisting forcesimposed on said bumper and draft element.

13. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine or other industrialcars, a flanged bumper and draft element carried by the car andlongitudinally slidable relative thereto, a cross member extendingacross said element between the flanges thereof and connected to the caragainst longitudinal movement relative thereto, U-shaped straps locatedforward and rearward of said cross member and held thereby againstmovement away therefrom, resilient means interposed between said crossmember and the web portions of said U-shaped straps and urging saidstraps away from the cross member, and means including stop bars securedto the U-shaped straps to transfer bumping and draft forces past saidcross member to the resilient means on the opposite side of the crossmember from that side toward which the bumper and draft element ismoving under such forces.

14. As an article of manufacture, a resilient unit comprising opposedU-shaped straps having overlapping arms with elongated slots formedtherein adapted to receive a cross member, cross bars joining togetherthe side arms of each strap and forming stops adjacent the ends of thestrap preventing separation of the straps, and a resilient member andfollower interposed between the web of each U-shaped strap and the crossbar stops joining together the arms of the opposed U-shaped strap.

15. As an article of manufacture, a pair of interlocked straps adaptedto receive resilient units and comprising opposed U-shaped members eachhaving side arms joined together by a web and positioned with the sidearms thereof overlapped by the side arms of the opposed strap, andcrossbars located substantially in common planes and joining the sidearms of each strap together remote from the web and at a point closer tothe web of the opposed strap than to the web of the strap to which theyare attached.

ROBERT A. SHIELDS.

